Patents Assigned to VIA LABS, INC.
  • Publication number: 20230176954
    Abstract: A USB integrated circuit (IC), a testing platform and an operating method for USB integrated circuit are provided. The USB integrated circuit includes a USB port physical layer (PHY) circuit, a first lane adapter, a second lane adapter, a routing circuit, and a USB transport layer circuit. The USB PHY circuit is configured to transmit a differential signal between the USB integrated circuit and an outside device. When the USB integrated circuit operates in a testing mode, the routing circuit electrically connects the first lane adapter to the USB PHY circuit. When the USB integrated circuit operates in a working mode, the routing circuit electrically connects the second lane adapter to the USB PHY circuit. The USB transport layer circuit is coupled to the first lane adapter and the second lane adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Hao-Hsuan Chiu
  • Publication number: 20230169026
    Abstract: A USB IC, an operation method thereof, and a USB device are provided. The USB IC is disposed in the USB device and includes a sideband use interface circuit coupled to a sideband use pin of a USB connector of the USB device, and a control circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the sideband use interface circuit and reports a first adapter configuration to a USB host via the sideband use interface circuit so that the USB host enumerates the USB device. The control circuit observes a behavior of the USB host to the USB device after the USB device is enumerated. The control circuit determines whether the first adapter configuration is suitable for a connection manager of the USB host according to the behavior. If not, the control circuit reports a second adapter configuration to the USB host so that the USB host re-enumerates the USB device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Heng Lin, Terrance Shiyang Shih, Chin-Sung Hsu
  • Patent number: 11605590
    Abstract: A multilayer-type on-chip inductor with a conductive structure includes an insulating redistribution layer disposed on an inter-metal dielectric layer, a first spiral trace layer disposed in the insulating redistribution layer, and a second spiral trace layer disposed in the inter-metal dielectric layer and correspondingly formed below the first spiral trace layer. The inter-metal dielectric layer has a separating region to divide the second spiral trace layer into line segments. First slit openings each passes through a corresponding line segment, and extends in an extending direction of a length of the corresponding line segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Sheng-Yuan Lee
  • Patent number: 11600612
    Abstract: A switch chip includes a first switch device, a first ESD protection device and a second ESD protection device. The first switch device is electrically coupled between a first pad and a second pad. The first ESD protection device is electrically coupled to a third pad which is electrically coupled to the first pad by a first bond wire. The second ESD protection device is electrically coupled to a fourth pad which is electrically coupled to the second pad by a second bond wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Didmin Shih, Tengyi Huang, Ting-Yen Wang, Yen Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 11574048
    Abstract: A hardware Trojan immunity device and an operation method thereof are provided. The hardware Trojan immunity device is disposed in a data transmission path between an output terminal of a first circuit and an input terminal of a second circuit. The hardware Trojan immunity device includes a multiplexer, an arbitrary pattern generator (APG) and a monitoring circuit. A first input terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to the output terminal of the first circuit. An output terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to the input terminal of the second circuit. The APG is coupled to a second input terminal of the multiplexer to provide pseudo-random data. The monitoring circuit is coupled to a control terminal of the multiplexer. The monitoring circuit is configured to monitor a data activity of the data transmission path and to control a routing of the multiplexer according to the data activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Ying-Chieh Ho, Chin-Hao Yang, Teng-Yen Tang
  • Publication number: 20220404891
    Abstract: A power management device and a consumer electronic product are provided. The power management device is for the consumer electronic product. The power management device includes a memory and a controller. The memory stores a power information of a load of the consumer electronic product. An input end of the first voltage regulator is coupled to a power pin of an upstream USB connector, and an output end of the first voltage regulator is coupled to a power end of the load. When USB device is connected to a downstream USB connector of the consumer electronic product, the controller obtains a power demand from the USB device, the controller determines whether to change a power mode of the upstream USB connector according to the power information and the power demand, and the controller controls the second voltage regulator according to the power mode to supply power to the USB device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Tze-Shiang Wang, Hui-Neng Chang, Nai-Chuan Hung, Sheng-Hsien Yen
  • Patent number: 11493543
    Abstract: A voltage comparator and an operation method thereof are provided. The voltage comparator includes an amplifying circuit, a reference current source, and a transient current source. A first input terminal and a second input terminal of the amplifying circuit respectively receive a first corresponding voltage corresponding to a target voltage and a reference voltage. The reference current source is coupled to the amplifying circuit to provide a reference current. The transient current source is coupled to the amplifying circuit to selectively provide a transient current. The transient current source detects a transition of a second corresponding voltage corresponding to the target voltage to dynamically adjust the transient current. Therefore, when a rapidly increasing voltage occurs in the target voltage, the transient current source may temporarily increase the current of the amplifying circuit, thereby accelerating the response speed of the amplifying circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Wei-Yu Wang, Yu-Chung Wei
  • Publication number: 20220292039
    Abstract: A connection interface conversion chip, a connection interface conversion device and an operation method are provided. The connection interface conversion chip includes a USB interface circuit, a DP interface circuit, a USB core circuit and a switching circuit. The USB interface circuit is suitable for coupling to a USB connector. The DP interface circuit is coupled to a DP sink device through a DP connector. The USB core circuit is coupled to both the USB interface circuit and the DP interface circuit. The switching circuit is coupled to both the USB interface circuit and the DP interface circuit. The switching circuit supports only one specific conduction mode that only allows transmitting DP signals between the USB interface circuit and the DP interface circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Lin, Hsiao-Chyi Lin, Yi-Shing Lin, Chien-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11442687
    Abstract: An audio transmission device coupled to an electronic device and including a detection circuit, a vendor-defined class circuit, and an audio class circuit is provided. The detection circuit detects an external sound to generate an input voice. The vendor-defined class circuit provides a first voice signal to the electronic device according to the input voice. An audio processing application program of the electronic device processes the first voice signal to generate a processed voice to the vendor-defined class circuit. The audio class circuit receives the processed voice from the vendor-defined class circuit, uses the processed voice as a second voice signal, and provides the second voice signal to the media manager of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsien Lin, Chin-Sung Hsu, Li-Feng Pan
  • Patent number: 11386030
    Abstract: A connection interface conversion chip, a connection interface conversion device and an operation method are provided. The connection interface conversion chip includes a USB interface circuit, a DP interface circuit, a USB core circuit and a switching circuit. The USB interface circuit is suitable for coupling to a USB connector. The DP interface circuit is suitable for coupling to a DP connector. In a first operation mode, at least one USB signal pair received by the USB connector is transmitted to the USB core circuit through the USB interface circuit. The USB core circuit decodes the USB signal pair and generates DP data. The DP data is transmitted to the DP connector by the DP interface circuit. In a second operation mode, the DP data received by the USB connector is transmitted to the DP connector through the USB interface circuit, the switching circuit and the DP interface circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Lin, Hsiao-Chyi Lin, Yi-Shing Lin, Chien-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11367773
    Abstract: An on-chip inductor structure includes first and second winding portions symmetrically arranged in an insulating layer by a symmetrical axis. Each of the first and second winding portions includes first and second semi-circular conductive lines concentrically arranged from the inside to the outside. First and second input/output conductive portions are disposed in the insulating layer along the extending direction of the symmetrical axis, to respectively and electrically couple the first ends of the outermost semi-circular conductive lines. A conductive branch structure is disposed in the insulating layer along the symmetrical axis and between the first and second input/output conductive portions, and electrically coupled to first ends of the innermost semi-circular conductive lines. The conductive branch structure has a grounded first end and a second end is electrically coupled to a circuit and is opposite the first end of the conductive branch structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Sheng-Yuan Lee
  • Publication number: 20220137688
    Abstract: A multi-port power supply device and an operation method thereof are provided. The multi-port power supply device includes multiple USB ports, multiple power converters, and a common control circuit. When an adjustment trend of an agreement power of a first USB port will make the agreement power greater than a rated minimum charging power of a USB device connected to the first USB port, the common control circuit dynamically changes the agreement power according to an actual output power of the first USB port. When the adjustment trend of the agreement power will make the agreement power less than the rated minimum charging power, the common control circuit does not change the agreement power, and the common control circuit dynamically transfers a power difference between the agreement power and the actual output power to other USB ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Tze-Shiang Wang, Sheng-Hsien Yen, Hui-Neng Chang
  • Publication number: 20220137690
    Abstract: A multi-port power supply device and an operation method thereof are provided. The multi-port power supply device includes a power converter, a power switch, a current detection circuit, a voltage detection circuit, a control circuit, and multiple USB ports. The power converter supplies power to a USB port via a current path. The control circuit determines whether the USB port is connected to a USB device according to an actual voltage of the current path. When the USB port is not connected to the USB device, the control circuit turns off the current path. When the USB port is connected to the USB device, after a part of a power of other USB ports is dynamically transferred to the USB port, the control circuit determines whether to turn on the current path according to an actual current of the current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Tze-Shiang Wang, Sheng-Hsien Yen, Hui-Neng Chang
  • Patent number: 11308016
    Abstract: A USB integrated circuit includes three TX connecting component pairs and three RX connecting component pairs. The first TX connecting component pair and the first RX connecting component pair are respectively coupled to the first TX pin pair and the first RX pin pair of the first USB connector. The second TX connecting component pair and the second RX connecting component pair are respectively coupled to the first TX pin pair and the first RX pin pair of a second USB connector. The third TX connecting component pair is coupled to the second TX pin pair of the first USB connector or to the second TX pin pair of the second USB connector. The third RX connecting component pair is coupled to the second RX pin pair of the first USB connector or to the second RX pin pair of the second USB connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Wen-Yu Tseng, Wen-Hao Cheng, Terrance Shiyang Shih
  • Patent number: 11176074
    Abstract: A chip and an interface conversion device are provided. The chip includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pads. The first and second pads are coupled to first and second SBU pins of a USB connector respectively. The fourth and the sixth pads are coupled to first and second pins of an AUX channel of a DP connector respectively. When the chip operates in a first mode, first and second AUX channel signals generated by the chip are transmitted to the third and fifth pads respectively, a voltage of the fourth pad is weakly pulled down, and a voltage of the sixth pad is weakly pulled up. When the chip operates in a second mode, one of the first and second pads is connected to the fourth pad, and the other one of the first and second pads is connected to the sixth pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Yun-Tien Liu, Cheng-Chung Lin, Hsiao-Chyi Lin, Shao-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11151069
    Abstract: A USB hub and an operating method thereof are provided. The USB hub includes a first USB connector coupled to a first device, a second USB connector coupled to a second device, a first power switch, a second power switch, a power converter, and a third power switch. The first power switch has a first end coupled to a power pin of the first USB connector. The second power switch has a first end coupled to a second end of the first power switch, and a second end coupled to a power pin of the second USB connector. The power converter has an input coupled to the second end of the first power switch. The third power switch has a first end coupled to an output of the power converter, where a second end of the third power switch is coupled to the power pin of the second USB connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Li-Feng Pan
  • Publication number: 20210271754
    Abstract: A hardware Trojan immunity device and an operation method thereof are provided. The hardware Trojan immunity device is disposed in a data transmission path between an output terminal of a first circuit and an input terminal of a second circuit. The hardware Trojan immunity device includes a multiplexer, an arbitrary pattern generator (APG) and a monitoring circuit. A first input terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to the output terminal of the first circuit. An output terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to the input terminal of the second circuit. The APG is coupled to a second input terminal of the multiplexer to provide pseudo-random data. The monitoring circuit is coupled to a control terminal of the multiplexer. The monitoring circuit is configured to monitor a data activity of the data transmission path and to control a routing of the multiplexer according to the data activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Ying-Chieh Ho, Chin-Hao Yang, Teng-Yen Tang
  • Publication number: 20210271620
    Abstract: A connection interface conversion chip, a connection interface conversion device and an operation method are provided. The connection interface conversion chip includes a USB interface circuit, a DP interface circuit, a USB core circuit and a switching circuit. The USB interface circuit is suitable for coupling to a USB connector. The DP interface circuit is suitable for coupling to a DP connector. In a first operation mode, at least one USB signal pair received by the USB connector is transmitted to the USB core circuit through the USB interface circuit. The USB core circuit decodes the USB signal pair and generates DP data. The DP data is transmitted to the DP connector by the DP interface circuit. In a second operation mode, the DP data received by the USB connector is transmitted to the DP connector through the USB interface circuit, the switching circuit and the DP interface circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Lin, Hsiao-Chyi Lin, Yi-Shing Lin, Chien-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11031803
    Abstract: A start-up apparatus for a battery management circuit and a battery management system having the same are provided. The start-up apparatus for the battery management circuit includes a transformer, a switch circuit, a control circuit, and a rectifier circuit. The transformer includes a primary winding, an auxiliary winding, and a secondary winding. A first terminal of the primary winding is coupled to a first external power path. A first terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to a second terminal of the primary winding, and a second terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to a second external power path. The control circuit is coupled to the auxiliary winding for receiving power and controls a conduction state of the switch circuit. The rectifier circuit is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer and supplies power to the battery management circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Tze-Shiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11018498
    Abstract: An eMarker device is used in a cable electrically connected between a first port and a second port, wherein the cable includes a configuration channel communication wire. The eMarker device comprises: a first eMarker disposed near the first port and including a first active protection module coupled to the configuration channel communication wire, wherein the first eMarker is electrically connected to a first power pin of the first port and a second power pin of the second port; and a second eMarker disposed near the second port and including a second active protection module coupled to the configuration channel communication wire, wherein either of the first active protection module and the second active protection module changes an electric characteristic of the configuration channel communication wire to have the first port detect a disconnecting status of the second port when a specified event happens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Feng-Kuan Su, Yu-Lung Lin, Yi-Te Chen